Pinterest Addict

I have discovered that I have a lot of time on my hands. School break and being unable to sleep until five in the morning has me trolling through the Pinterest boards. I've also been scanning websites for different ideas, and found that "pinning" them as a reminder has been extremely helpful.

I turned to Pinterest this evening to make a midnight snack for the hubby and me. The results are in the picture! I made waffles using the cinnamon rolls in the can as my base... simple and yummy!

I'll be trying two more things from Pinterest for New Year's Eve (see my previous post).

Happy Pinning!

New Year's Eve EATS!

Going give these two things to try out as appetizers! I'll let you know how they turn out! :)

MINI TACO BITES

Source: allrecipes.com via Marissa on Pinterest

RANCH MUSHROOMS

Source: cdkitchen.com via Marissa on Pinterest

Music - A Quiz Thing (Take 2)

I did this quiz the first time about five years ago ... retake!

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (i Tunes, WinAmp, Media Player, iPod, etc.)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.

Opening Credits:
Bring Him Home Santa - The Song Trust

Waking Up:
With You - Linkin Park

First Day at School:
Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles

Falling in Love:
Every Other Weekend - Reba McEntire & Kenny Chesney

Fight Song:
Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Baby - Barry White

Breaking Up:
I'm Sprung - T-Pain

Prom:
Rumors - Lindsay Lohan

College Life:
Finally - Fergie

Mental Breakdown:
Like Me - Kenny Cheney

Getting Back Together:
Wife and Kids - Kenny Chesney

Wedding:
Crash Train - Ozzy Osbourne

Birth of a Child:
Bananza (Belly Dancer)

Final Battle:
Changes - Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne

Funeral Song:
Don't Phunk With My Heart - The Black Eyed Peas

Ending Credit:
Love Story - Taylor Swift

Four Days 'Til 2013

It's been an up and down year... it was the year of the BIG wedding that never happened, but the year that I did say "I DO!"  Though I didn't get to have the wedding of my dreams, I still got to marry the love of my life! Small, yet simple... the courthouse wedding was the highlight of the year. All that mattered was that the family who supported us in everything got to share our special moment together.

So, 2013 is just a few days away. I am hoping for good things to happen... employment for both Rob and myself; better finances; and possibly a special blessing to join our family around this time!

Day 3: Dogs

I don't know about you, but I definitely know that since my dog, Mya, came into our lives (my husband and myself) that it just feels that everything has changed.  Prior to our life with Mya, it had been two years of mourning.  My father-in-law suffered a stroke; my mom was in and out of the hospital, and eventually passing away in November 2010; shortly after, our other beloved pet, our dwarf rabbit bunny Mabel, past away three months later.  So, I felt that our lives were empty.  The talk about having another pet to love, like we did with Mabel, would help fill our void.  My husband and I agreed that we would never get another bunny because, in all honesty, Mabel was the best.  No other bunny would ever be like her, especially in comparison with the other two bunnies that were in our extended family.  Anyway, since Mya had joined her us in her forever home, there have been changes in our lives.  An improvement in my dad's health... a better outlook in life, in general.  Whatever it may be, there is no true explanation as to how bright our life has become with our little Shiba Inu in our lives.

Morning Crowd

I often go people watching to kill some free time, curiosity, intrigue..... today isn't any different. I'm currently sitting at the mall's food court, about 45 minutes before all the stores open up at the mall.  There are many people here, mostly the seniors, who are spending the morning power walking.  Others are doing the same as me, eating breakfast while reading a book or on the phone (I'm doing both).

Voices begin to fill the food court area as groups begin to gather around tables. Some are just passing by to say hello to friends. Others actually sit down at a long row of tables. Perhaps, they will discuss weekend plans, or reminisce on some cherished memories. Whatever it maybe, animated expressions surround the camaraderie.

I just wanted to share... back to my breakfast and my book!

This guy is pretty cool...

Competition begins on "The Voice" soon.  VOTE FOR HIM!

Watch "@JRAquino - By Chance (You & I) (ORIGINAL)" on YouTube

Are You Still Out There?

I know, I know.... I haven't really blogged over the past couple of years.  I basically have had an uneventful life during that period of time.  Other than planning the wedding that never happened, the travels to my parents' homeland, and school, I haven't really had much to share with everybody.  I kinda find it a bit disappointing, actually, because there is always something for me to share... talk about... on my mind... you know, all those crazy things!

For myself, at least, I think I will go back to blogging... time to make it part of my daily routine again.  I'm not working full-time anymore, but will be attending school at a full-time basis.  Soooooooo.... I just may have something to share with all of you (well, whoever is left out there).  I'm not quite sure what it is I just might talk about, BUT there are some interesting souls at school to contemplate on... we shall see!

HO-hum

September has always been a "ho-hum" feeling whenever it comes every year.  I can't really explain why I feel this way.  The month can always be a happy one, a sad one, or just another month.  The past couple of years, September has been a downer.  Two years ago, we were celebrating my mom's 73rd birthday, then we lost her forever a couple of months later.  Last year, the first birthday celebration (of my mom's and myself) without her around... I felt there was no reason for me to enjoy my 35th birthday.  I felt that I should just be in my solitude, remembering my mom and how much I love her and missed her.  This year, 2012, I still feel "eh" inside.  I've been sad and angry because I know that deep down inside that I'm still mourning for my mom.  Her birthday is in a week, and feel like I should keep that memory alive.  I want to celebrate her birthday like she did, her last one.  However, it hurts inside that I can't just run into her room, like I always did, and wake her up with a "Happy Birthday" greeting.  Tears now drop down my face as I reminisce on those days.

However I may feel, I realize that life definitely goes on.  September 14 will always be the day that I will remember my mom.... Whatever I may do to remember and celebrate my mom, I know that she will always be there with me.  I can hear her now... "Don't be shedding tears for me!"  SO, here are to the happy memories... ho-hum...

Our Wedding Day ~ August 9, 2012

Our Wedding Pictures

My Dad

I spent a good evening with my dad last night. We were watching "Top Gun," and he saw a fighter plane on the TV screen. He told me how he once saw one like it as a child during the Japanese War (WWII). I was truly amazed by the stories he told of his childhood. It was a special moment only because he never told stories when I was younger. It was my mom who always told stories about her childhood. So, these are times that I will cherish since I know that I won't have that much time left with him.

Oh, school...

As you may know, I returned to school in a more serious basis in October 2010.  My focus was to finish school for career advancement.  For twelve years, my previous job positions were good as a "job," but not challenging enough for me to develop a career.  My last job as a Contract Assistant, though it was different than my previous job history, was intriguing since I dealt with contract reviews and project closeouts.  However, I did not enjoy the environment with a couple of people in my department -- my boss and a co-worker.  To this extent, I needed to search of a way to go beyond being stuck at any kind of job out there... thus, the return to school.

So, where am I going with this?  Well, this quarter, even though I am only part-time, is really kicking my butt.  For those that know me, I don't really mind the learning part.  It is the writing part that I really don't enjoy.  I believe that when I was taking the classes at the community college that the writing assignments is what hampered my learning.  I really struggle on a weekly basis to try and put together a five-paragraph essay, let alone, just a paragraph.  I hate planning the structure of a paper.  I don't mind the outlines and the freewriting aspect of it.  It is the ACTUAL paper that I can't stand... have I mentioned that I don't like writing papers?  My point is that I struggle every week completing my papers, and I struggle to find the motivation to do it.  It is to the point where it is ultimately the last ditch effort to have something completed by the due date.  I have a paper due on Wednesday for my Critical Thinking class (another subject that I do not enjoy) on the five aspects of problem solving -- topic: Facebook privacy.  I do not even know where to begin!!!  *sigh*

OK, thanks for listening to me vent... continue onward to watching the Olympics (I'm watching the women's gymnastics)... GO USA!!!

Mya Searches For Her Tennis Ball

I found this video quite entertaining as a played catch with Mya...

Hercules

I had to share this picture. My hamster fell asleep on his wheel!

Uncle Ga & Mina

What more than a bond between an uncle and his niece... Rob and Amorina in a beautiful March afternoon

Looking back

With the recent passing of my (best) friend, I've realized that there were so many things taken for granted with life in general. However, before I look forward to the future, I want to look back at how my life was like since I started this blog. I started writing about everything and anything in my life in January 2006...

Here's a look back on what life was like:

2006 - My one and only blog for the month: March 5, 2006
2007 - Three posts: March 2007
2008 - I stopped blogging consistently :-/
2009 - Did not blog more, only TWO posts in 2009
2010 - Must have been a rough year... mom was in the hospital that year
2011 - It was all about Mya around this time ~ Mya was born and the first time we met Mya!

Jamie

I know that I probably do not have the right to post something like this, however, I feel that I have to say my goodbye. So, here goes...

Jamie, we first met when you were a patient at Fortanasce & Associates... an 18-year-old girl who recently had knee surgery, and was preparing to head off to UCLA. For some reason, we shared a special bond through photography, scrapbooking, and the mere stories of the random people we came across at the clinic. Under all that, we became the best of friends. We had our adventures, and somehow, even though the bad days, we still managed to share our thoughts and deepest secrets with each other. For the past six years, your health had been up and down, and you going in and out of the hospital. I feel that somehow I was too blame for not being there when you needed me the most. For that, I am deeply sorry that I dropped the ball. However, for the past six months, I became a bit selfish when I got lost in all the wedding drama. I was angry that you could not be part of my engagement party because of the two people that made your life miserable. I took it personal when you blocked me on AIM... I took you off every means of communication that I had with you. Therefore, for whatever reason, I felt that I lost my best friend. However, there was not a day that I did not think about you.... When I saw an old co-worker, Ashley, comment on Tony's status post of you passing, I was in complete shock. Today, I am still in shock. I feel your presence in a sixth sense kind of way. I can feel your mom's pain because I know how much she loved you. This is my final goodbye to you... I know that you are finally at peace and that God has relieved you from all the pain you have endured. I do still love you. You not only were the bests of friends, but you were a sister to me! I will and always will miss you.

Griffith Park

I haven't been to Griffith Park since maybe 1995 (way before their major renovation and restoration project). Rob hadn't been to the observatory at all since his move to California in 1998. We went to check it out with our friend, Brenda, on Friday... pretty cool!

Tired

As I write this, I just let out the biggest yawn I have had so far. I am so tired it is difficult for me to verbalize the simplest of words by pronouncing the wrong syllable in a word that is remotely not the same. It has been a busy week, and I cannot recall the last time Rob and I had just a day to relax. Many past events with family and friends over the past two weekends have been entertaining, but it is exhausting! I am hoping that this week will die down soon because I want to sleep! I cannot get a normal sleep cycle going at all!

Project 365 | A Photo Challenge

In light of everything that has happened, I realized that I need a bit of some stress relief. To seek that relief, I turned back to something that I have always enjoyed doing - PHOTOGRAPHY! Before modern technology even took over with the digital camera, there has not been a time where I was always caring a camera, dozens of film canisters, and my imagination. Digital cameras made my project even easier where I could just tuck it into whatever purse, backpack, or coat pocket that I had with me at the time. Instant memories were cherished (or deleted) forever. Looking at a former co-worker’s and her little daughters’ blog (they each have one), I discovered that my co-worker also had a photoblog document every single day. She had started her own Project 365 based on daily themes that she received from scrapbooking group. I was so amazed to see many of the different pictures she had taken, and her perspective on things. Heather's photo taking has inspired me to begin photoblogging for the next 365 days. I am exploring the different themes and ideas to see what I can share for the next 52 weeks. Check out my site everyday: 365 Days of Mynmay

What Could Have Been

March 17, 2012 - today's festivities would have been our wedding day, not St. Patrick's Day. For the past two weeks, I have been under a great deal of stress, not because of what would have been. It was because if what MIGHT not happen. For personal reasons, the March wedding that I have been planning for the past eight months had become a not. However, a wedding will still happen in July. *fingers crossed*

Wedding Progress

Less than three weeks to go until the wedding, and things are starting to go crazy. It hasn't hit me yet that our special day is fast approaching. There are little things here and there that are beginning to come together. However, there are still deadlines that we are still trying to meet. In any case, we are looking forward for the big day to come. The bridal shower, bachelor party, and bachelorette dinner will be happening within the next two weeks. So, come right back as I post pictures of the upcoming events!